Quotes by Historian | Beyond Motive 4/35

top of page

Quotes by Historian

"The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes."

"The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Friendship, Identity

63

"In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live and enjoy his being who is engaged in some laudable pursuit, and acquires a name by some illustrious action, or useful art."

"In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live and enjoy his being who is engaged in some laudable pursuit, and acquires a name by some illustrious action, or useful art."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Art, Action, Being, May

63

"Justice must always question itself, just as society can exist only by means of the work it does on itself and on its institutions."

"Justice must always question itself, just as society can exist only by means of the work it does on itself and on its institutions."

Michel Foucault, French Historian

Society, Work, Justice, Question

63

"The human race's prospects of survival were considerably better when we were defenceless against tigers than they are today when we have become defenceless against ourselves."

"The human race's prospects of survival were considerably better when we were defenceless against tigers than they are today when we have become defenceless against ourselves."

Arnold J. Toynbee, British Historian

Survival, Race, Today

63

"The Stuart sovereigns of England steadily attempted to strengthen their power, and the resistance to that effort caused an immense growth of Parliamentary influence."

"The Stuart sovereigns of England steadily attempted to strengthen their power, and the resistance to that effort caused an immense growth of Parliamentary influence."

Albert Bushnell Hart, American Historian

Power, Growth, Effort, England

63

"The philosophic spirit of inquiry may be traced to brute curiosity, and that to the habit of examining all things in search of food."

"The philosophic spirit of inquiry may be traced to brute curiosity, and that to the habit of examining all things in search of food."

William Winwood Reade, Scottish Historian

Food, Habit, Curiosity, May

62

"Susceptibility to the highest forces is the highest genius."

"Susceptibility to the highest forces is the highest genius."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

62

"Only on the edge of the grave can man conclude anything."

"Only on the edge of the grave can man conclude anything."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

Conclusion, Grave, Man

62

"He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain, Will never rise to fight again."

"He that fights and runs away, May turn and fight another day; But he that is in battle slain, Will never rise to fight again."

Tacitus, Roman Historian

Battle, Day, Fight, May

62

"The long term versus the short term argument is one used by losers."

"The long term versus the short term argument is one used by losers."

Lord Acton, British Historian

62

"I can not think of any circumstances in which advertising would not be an evil."

"I can not think of any circumstances in which advertising would not be an evil."

Arnold J. Toynbee, British Historian

Advertising, Circumstances, Evil

62

"As we advance in life, we learn the limits of our abilities."

"As we advance in life, we learn the limits of our abilities."

James Anthony Froude, English Historian

62

"Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs of tedium and distaste. The gain in self confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labor is immense."

"Having once decided to achieve a certain task, achieve it at all costs of tedium and distaste. The gain in self confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labor is immense."

Arthur Helps, British Historian

Confidence, Gain, Labor, Self

62

"Soft men tend to be born from soft countries."

"Soft men tend to be born from soft countries."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Man, Men, Countries

62

"In my own case, who have spent my whole life in the practice of virtue, right conduct from habitual has become natural."

"In my own case, who have spent my whole life in the practice of virtue, right conduct from habitual has become natural."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Life, Virtue, Practice, Right

62

"From whichever angle one looks at it, the application of racial theories remains a striking proof of the lowered demands of public opinion upon the purity of critical judgment."

"From whichever angle one looks at it, the application of racial theories remains a striking proof of the lowered demands of public opinion upon the purity of critical judgment."

Johan Huizinga, Dutch Historian

Judgment, Opinion, Proof, Public

62

"The New England conscience does not stop you from doing what you shouldn't-it just stops you from enjoying it."

"The New England conscience does not stop you from doing what you shouldn't-it just stops you from enjoying it."

Cleveland Amory, American Historian

Conscience, England

62

"The destiny of man is in his own soul."

"The destiny of man is in his own soul."

Herodotus, Greek Historian

Soul, Destiny, Man

62

"By common consent gray hairs are a crown of glory; the only object of respect that can never excite envy."

"By common consent gray hairs are a crown of glory; the only object of respect that can never excite envy."

George Bancroft, American Historian

Envy, Glory, Respect

61

"Revolution as an ideal concept always preserves the essential content of the original thought: sudden and lasting betterment."

"Revolution as an ideal concept always preserves the essential content of the original thought: sudden and lasting betterment."

Johan Huizinga, Dutch Historian

Content, Revolution

61

"The essence of greatness is neglect of the self."

"The essence of greatness is neglect of the self."

James Anthony Froude, English Historian

Greatness, Neglect, Self

61

"There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men."

"There is no error so monstrous that it fails to find defenders among the ablest men."

Lord Acton, British Historian

Man, Men, Error

61

"The knife of historical relativism... which has cut to pieces all metaphysics and religion must also bring about healing."

"The knife of historical relativism... which has cut to pieces all metaphysics and religion must also bring about healing."

Wilhelm Dilthey, German Historian

Religion, Healing, Metaphysics

61

"Expenditures rise to meet income."

"Expenditures rise to meet income."

C. Northcote Parkinson, British Historian

61

"A society that has made "nostalgia" a marketable commodity on the cultural exchange quickly repudiates the suggestion that life in the past was in any important way better than life today."

"A society that has made "nostalgia" a marketable commodity on the cultural exchange quickly repudiates the suggestion that life in the past was in any important way better than life today."

Christopher Lasch, American Historian

Life, Society, Past, Today

61

"It's a wonderful thing to see a segment of our population that is open and eager to learn more about Chinese culture. It has filtered into the mainstream. You see credit-card ads on TV with white couples and Chinese babies."

"It's a wonderful thing to see a segment of our population that is open and eager to learn more about Chinese culture. It has filtered into the mainstream. You see credit-card ads on TV with white couples and Chinese babies."

Iris Chang, Chinese Historian

Diversity, Babies, Credit, Culture, Open

61

"The crusade against Communism was even more imaginary than the specter of Communism."

"The crusade against Communism was even more imaginary than the specter of Communism."

A. J. P. Taylor, British Historian

61

"The effect of violent dislike between groups has always created an indifference to the welfare and honor of the state."

"The effect of violent dislike between groups has always created an indifference to the welfare and honor of the state."

Thomas B. Macaulay, English Historian

Division, Effect, Honor, Indifference, State

60

"A teacher affects eternity he can never tell, where his influence stops."

"A teacher affects eternity he can never tell, where his influence stops."

Henry B. Adams, American Historian

Influence, Eternity

60

"The first duty of an historian is to be on guard against his own sympathies."

"The first duty of an historian is to be on guard against his own sympathies."

James Anthony Froude, English Historian

60

"Heroism is endurance for one moment more."

"Heroism is endurance for one moment more."

George F. Kennan, American Historian

Heroism, Endurance

60

"Routine is not organization, any more than paralysis is order."

"Routine is not organization, any more than paralysis is order."

Arthur Helps, British Historian

60

"Small communities grow great through harmony, great ones fall to pieces through discord."

"Small communities grow great through harmony, great ones fall to pieces through discord."

Sallust, Roman Historian

Necessity, Harmony

60

"Custer had dead heroes. Crazy Horse had only live ones."

"Custer had dead heroes. Crazy Horse had only live ones."

Stephen Ambrose, American Historian

Heroism, Heroes

60

"By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed."

"By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed."

Sallust, Roman Historian

60

"Every science begins as philosophy and ends as art."

"Every science begins as philosophy and ends as art."

Will Durant, American Historian

Art, Science, Philosophy

60

"My first name - I have no middle name - was chosen by my father, as he told me, on that solitary walk in the forested hills. He selected it from a verse of the seventh chapter of Isaiah; there was no Immanuel among our ancestors known to him."

"My first name - I have no middle name - was chosen by my father, as he told me, on that solitary walk in the forested hills. He selected it from a verse of the seventh chapter of Isaiah; there was no Immanuel among our ancestors known to him."

Immanuel Velikovsky, Belarusian Historian

Family, Father, First, Name

60

"Crossing the Penobscot, one found a visible descent in the scale of humanity."

"Crossing the Penobscot, one found a visible descent in the scale of humanity."

Francis Parkman, American Historian

60

"Now, most of the new immigrants coming to this country are from Asia as opposed to Europe."

"Now, most of the new immigrants coming to this country are from Asia as opposed to Europe."

Iris Chang, Chinese Historian

Nation, Country, Europe, Now

60

"The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern: every class is unfit to govern."

"The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern: every class is unfit to govern."

Lord Acton, British Historian

Government, Class, Danger

60

"Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war."

"Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war."

Thucydides, Greek Historian

60

"It is a sign that your reputation is small and sinking if your own tongue must praise you."

"It is a sign that your reputation is small and sinking if your own tongue must praise you."

Matthew Hale, British Historian

Praise, Reputation, Tongue

60

"Reform, that we may preserve."

"Reform, that we may preserve."

Thomas B. Macaulay, English Historian

60

"As human beings, we are endowed with freedom of choice, and we cannot shuffle off our responsibility upon the shoulders of God or nature. We must shoulder it ourselves. It is our responsibility."

"As human beings, we are endowed with freedom of choice, and we cannot shuffle off our responsibility upon the shoulders of God or nature. We must shoulder it ourselves. It is our responsibility."

Arnold J. Toynbee, British Historian

God, Nature, Choice, Freedom

59

"Be not content with the best book; seek sidelights from the others; have no favourites."

"Be not content with the best book; seek sidelights from the others; have no favourites."

Lord Acton, British Historian

59

"Ancient metaphysics underwent many changes at the hands of medieval thinkers who brought it in line with the dominant religious and theological movements of their day."

"Ancient metaphysics underwent many changes at the hands of medieval thinkers who brought it in line with the dominant religious and theological movements of their day."

Wilhelm Dilthey, German Historian

Philosophy, Day, Metaphysics, Religious

59

"The new always happens against the overwhelming odds of statistical laws and their probability, which for all practical, everyday purposes amounts to certainty; the new therefore always appears in the guise of a miracle."

"The new always happens against the overwhelming odds of statistical laws and their probability, which for all practical, everyday purposes amounts to certainty; the new therefore always appears in the guise of a miracle."

Hannah Arendt, German Historian

Certainty, Laws

59

"That Rome was comparatively great and wealthy is certain."

"That Rome was comparatively great and wealthy is certain."

Goldwin Smith, Canadian Historian

59

"A man of such obvious and exemplary charm must be a liar."

"A man of such obvious and exemplary charm must be a liar."

Anita Brookner, English Historian

Trustworthiness, Charm, Man, Obvious

59

"As history since Hiroshima shows, the best, perhaps the only, way to curb war is to deter it with such overwhelming force as to turn it from a struggle into suicide."

"As history since Hiroshima shows, the best, perhaps the only, way to curb war is to deter it with such overwhelming force as to turn it from a struggle into suicide."

Martin van Creveld, Israeli Historian

History, War, Force, Struggle

59

bottom of page